River Allow

The River Allow (Abhainn Ealla ) is a river in Ireland, flowing through County Limerick and County Cork.

Course
The Allow rises in the Mullaghareirk Mountains and forms part of the County Limerick–County Cork border before flowing eastwards, passing under the R579 and meeting a tributary near Freemount, passing under the R578 and continuing southward to Kanturk where it meets the River Dalua. The Allow then flows southwards, passing under the N72 at Leader's Bridge and enters the Munster Blackwater at Ballymaquirk/Dromcummer Beg. The Munster Blackwater drains into the Celtic Sea at Youghal Harbour.

Special Area of Conservation
The River Allow is included in the Special Area of Conservation: Blackwater River (Cork/Waterford) SAC (Site Code 002170).

Wildlife
The River Allow is a salmon fishery.

In conjunction with conservation and remedial ecological work, a biodiversity audit was carried out by the IRD Duhallow Life+ project to establish baselines for the species which inhabit this catchment and those which would be expected but were missing, with a view to reparative action. The audit was primarily directed at specific species: European Otter (Lutra lutra), Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) and the Irish subspecies of Dipper (Cinclus cinclus hibernicus). Numbers of each species were recorded between 2011 and 2015. Otter activity was noted at 56.56% of the surveyed sites on the Allow, with the lowest rates recorded in 2012. While a previous study in 2010 by Cummins et al found no kingfishers on the River Allow, six distinct Kingfisher territories were noted in this study (either currently or previously inhabited). Kingfisher nest-tunnels and adult birds were recorded across the catchment. Dippers were observed through the period of the study (2011-2015) across much of the catchment. Their absence was noted on a 2-kilometre stretch of the river which had been damaged by an aluminium flocculate leak discovered in 2014.

In 2016, a number of local students carried out a Young Scientist project on exploring the factors affecting the presence of the Freshwater Pearl Mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) on the Allow River. The project results showed that the pearl mussel was present in this catchment and the distribution of the species was primarily dependent on substrate size and siltation, and pollution had a negative effect on the presence of this species. The freshwater Pearl Mussel is protected under Annex II and V of the EU Habitats Directive and under Schedule 1 of the Irish Wildlife Act and the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations.

The IRD Duhallow RaptorLIFE project, which commenced in 2015, focused on conservation work based around four species: the Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus), Merlin (Falco columbarius), Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and Brook lamprey (Lampetra planeri). This project included the catchment of the River Allow.

IRD Duhallow
The IRD Duhallow LIFE SAMOK Programme was a conservation and restoration strategy for the protected and endangered species living in the Munster Blackwater SAC, including the River Allow. This project ran until 2015. The restoration and conservation work has continued in this area with the Duhallow Farming for Blue Dot EIP Project. This project formally finished in December 2023. It had involved approximately 100 local farmers, and had achieved improvements in 4 of the 18 river catchments included, while 13 more maintained good status.

Fish kill
On Monday 10 June 2024, Inland Fisheries Ireland announced a significant fish kill had occurred in the River Allow, estimating approximately 5,000 fish had died. Fish species affected included juvenile Atlantic salmon, brown trout, lamprey, eel, stone loach, roach, and dace. Inland Fisheries Ireland, the State agency responsible for the protection and conservation of freshwater fish and habitats opened an investigation into the cause of the fish kill. Uisce Éireann, which operates a water treatment plant in Freemount Co Cork, is reported to be investigating a possible chemical spillage at the plant which may be responsible for the fish kill.

Preliminary investigations reported that approximately 2,500 liters of polyaluminium chloride were released from a burst pipe at the Uisce Éireann plant. Uisce Éireann announced that they would fully cooperate with Inland Fisheries Ireland, and claimed that drinking water would not be impacted by the spill.

History
On his march from Dursey Island, after the Dursey Massacre in 1602, Donal Cam O'Sullivan Beare, Prince of Beare, 1st Count of Berehaven attempted to cross the River Allow on his 14-day journey with the remainder of his followers to meet Lord Tyrone at Lough Neagh. At the Ford of Bellaghan, John Barry, the brother of a Viscount Barry led forty footsoldiers and eight horsemen from Liscarroll Castle against the chieftain at the Allow River. From historical accounts, the site of the confrontation was likely to be at the ford of Bellaghan which is likely to be at or near John’s Bridge at Ballybahallagh. A Captain Cuffe was said to hold the ford with a superior force of Englishmen, according to at least one account. From these accounts, it is said that many of O’Sullivan Beare’s followers were wounded but only a small number were killed. From there, the O’Sullivan Beare group moved on to the Ballyhoura Mountains.